Page 22 of Love in Unexpected Places

He hadn’t been sure how things would be between them when they saw each other again, but he shouldn’t have worried.Sabrina wanted him here as much as he wanted to be here.She needed him, and even though he hadn’t realized until now, he needed her.

And they’d finally found each other again.

* * * *

Sullivan watched asthe siblings reunited.He knew that Matty had been worried about Sabrina and her reaction to seeing him after four years, but clearly, he shouldn’t have.Sabrina was sobbing and clinging to Matty as if she was afraid he’d disappear again.

Their mother huffed and moved toward them.Sullivan didn’t want to touch her, but he wasn’t above using his magic.He wiggled his fingers, and she encountered an invisible wall.She blinked, looking surprised, and Sullivan grinned at himself.

Sometimes, he loved being a mage.

She turned toward him, her eyes narrowing.“Matty never mentioned who you were.”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business.”

“You’re in my home.”

“Technically, I’m on the porch.I haven’t stepped into your house, and I have no intention of doing so.”Sullivan would if Matty needed him to, but Matty’s mother didn’t need to know that.In fact, the less she knew, the better.

“What are you?”

“Again, none of your business.Just know that if you do anything to hurt Matty or Sabrina, you’ll regret it.”

“I would never hurt them,” she said, raising her fingers to her chest as if shocked by Sullivan’s suggestion.

“I didn’t say you hit them, just that you hurt them.You can’t tell me that Matty and Sabrina weren’t hurt by you kicking them out.”

“They’re adults.They can and should take care of themselves.”

“And you’re an asshole.”

She made a strangled sound, but Sullivan didn’t care.Matty was walking toward him, dragging Sabrina by the hand.They both ignored their mother, and Matty stopped in front of Sullivan before turning to his sister.“Sabrina, this is Sullivan.He’s a friend of mine.Sullivan, this is my sister Sabrina.”

Sullivan smiled at her, hoping to help her relax.Today couldn’t be easy for her.She was turning eighteen, getting kicked out of the only home she’d ever had, and seeing her brother for the first time in four years.She probably could have done without meeting new people, and Sullivan would do what he could to make the situation easier for her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

She looked nervous, which made sense, but she smiled back.“I’m glad to know Matty wasn’t alone.”

“Oh, I don’t think he ever was.He has a solid family who loves him.Now, how many things of yours do we have to grab before leaving?It’s a long drive to get home, and I think that the sooner we leave, the better it will be for everyone.”Even for Matty and Sabrina’s parents.At the moment, Sullivan wasn’t sure if there was a reason not to use his magic on them.He wouldn’t kill them, just hurt them a little like they’d hurt their children.

“I only have a few bags,” Sabrina said, looking from Matty to their mother.“I’m not allowed to take anything else.”

Sullivan remembered how Matty had explained that his parents had kept everything of his just because they’d bought them—as they should have since they’d bought these things before Matty turned eighteen.

“Grab everything you’ll need, including your phone and computer.”

Sabrina watched Sullivan with wide eyes.Sullivan noticed Matty and Sabrina’s mother open her mouth, no doubt to tell him that that stuff belonged to her and her husband and that Sabrina couldn’t take it.Sullivan arched a brow at her, used his magic, and when she tried to speak, nothing came out.

Yeah, Sullivandefinitelyloved being a mage right now.

“Go,” Matty said, gently pushing his sister toward the stairs.“Sullivan and I will be here.Unless you need my help?”

“No, I should be fine.I just need a little more time to pack the stuff I didn’t think I could take.”

“Take all the time you need,” Sullivan told her.“I’ll keep Matty company.”

Sabrina still looked worried, which was understandable.Just like Matty, she knew what their parents were capable of, but Sullivan didn’t, so he might get a nasty surprise.

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